I received a question recently regarding using newspaper as a mulch to control weed growth in the garden. Diane made the following inquiry: “I was wondering what you think about using layers of newspaper covered with straw as weed control. We have such a prolific weed problem in our community garden that straw alone does not work and I refuse to resort to black plastic as many other garden members have done for understandable reasons.”

If you are wondering exactly where in the world Manitoba is located, you’re not alone. I believe that it’s part of Canada and was just about to look it up, but changed my mind when I saw that they still have five feet of snow on the ground. Here’s a letter that I received from Michele who grows a vegetable garden in not so sunny Manitoba:

The current issue of the Gardening Secrets Newsletter has been sent out to subscribers on the e-mail list. If you did not receive a copy you can obtain your free subscription to the gardening newsletter at the following link: http://www.mygardeningsecrets.com/optin.html. This month’s feature article offers ideas and activities to inspire the home gardener to get that spring garden off to a great start.

I didn’t plant a single potato in the garden last year due to space constraints, but this year I’m looking to include at least one variety of heirloom potato. I settled on growing a fingerling type potato because I really like the waxy texture and the versatility that they offer in the kitchen. Fingerlings are just as easy to grow as the common standard potato varieties.

As promised in the recent entry on browsing heirloom seed catalogs I intend to share some of the interesting plants that I stumble across in my favorite seed catalogs. Here’s the first new and unusual vegetable variety that I plan to grow in the garden this year; Purple Peacock Broccoli.

The theme of this year’s 5th Annual PA Garden Expo is “A Garden Party” and the festivities begin today March 8 and run through Sunday March 11, 2007. Considering the recent snowfall covering the ground, the PA Farm Show Complex & Expo Center sounds like the only place local gardeners will be able to do any celebrating this weekend.

With nothing but cold and more snow awaiting me outside, I’ve finally gotten around to enjoying one of my favorite indoor gardening activities… browsing through the latest heirloom and gourmet seed catalogs.

I just noticed that the PA Home Show isn’t the only gardening related event in town this weekend, as the 15th Annual Mid-Atlantic Garden Show opened on Thursday and will continue through Sunday, March 4, 2007. The show is being held in Central Pennsylvania over at the York Expo Center.